Lionel Messi made an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia on Monday, which meant he missed PSG's training session and was subsequently handed a two-week ban by the club.
Lionel Messi is set to leave PSG when his contract expires this summer
Lionel Messi is set to leave PSG when his contract expires this summer
Lionel Messi has been criticized by Barcelona legend Rivaldo after the superstar was suspended by Paris Saint-Germain following an illegal trip to Saudi Arabia, with comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi's PSG teammates are 'shocked' following Monday's unauthorized Middle East trip. Under the contract, the Argentine superstar was to travel to the Gulf country as the country's tourism ambassador, but he did not tell anyone at PSG about his trip.
That left many teammates confused as to why the 35-year-old was not present when they arrived at training on Monday. This comes as the star is set to leave PSG when his contract expires at the end of the current season, as reported by Mirror Football. The club no longer prioritizes extending his contract.
Messi, 35, knows he will be asked to train with his club-mates on Monday as it is a ritual for players after a weekend loss. PSG lost 1-3 at home to Lorient in Ligue 1 at the weekend.
The result helped open up the title race - leaving the capital club in a slump just five points ahead of Marseille before the tournament started. However, Messi has been suspended for two weeks, meaning he will miss at least two matches and will not be able to use the club's training facilities during that time. "I'm a bit sad to see Lionel Messi have such an attitude," explained Rivaldo, in a quote quoted by Diario AS, where he added that Messi would be very upset if he moved to Saudi Arabia permanently, compared to Ronaldo. in Al-Nasr. "It's disrespectful to his current club, an anomaly in his career, which has always been marked by the discipline of keeping clean sheets.
PSG and Messi have paused talks to extend his contract
PSG and Messi have paused talks to extend his contract
Have your voice! What do you think of Messi's trip to Saudi Arabia?
“He could certainly have done it differently. He has alternatives - talking to the club, waiting for the Saudi leaders to arrive in Paris or even waiting until the end of the season - to get along with PSG without causing internal problems. This.
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb tweeted on Monday, along with some photos from Messi's trip:
"I am delighted to welcome #Messi and his family to Saudi Arabia to enjoy its magical tourist destinations and authentic experiences. We welcome visitors from all over the world to experience a unique journey to Saudi Arabia and their hospitality. #Welcome Messi"
On Sunday, Messi posted a message on his Instagram account (shared by the official tourist board page), seemingly to announce his upcoming trip. "Who thought Saudi Arabia would have so many trees? I love to explore its unexpected wonders whenever possible."
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